Varicocele Embolization vs Varicocele Surgery

Today, men suffering from varicoceles have options when considering treatment. Previously, surgery was the only way you could treat these varicose veins of the scrotum. Recent medical advances have allowed men to choose between surgical treatment and embolization, a minimally invasive alternative to surgery. It’s important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of varicocele embolization vs surgery before making a final decision.

What Are My Treatment Options?

There are two types of treatments for varicoceles: surgery and a minimally invasive procedure called embolization.

Surgical Options:

There are 3 surgical options that are used to treat varicoceles.

Open Surgery — a surgeon makes an incision into either the upper scrotum, the groin, or the lower abdomen, finds the veins, and ties them off so blood can’t flow through them. Open surgery requires either general or local anesthesia.i

Microsurgery— a complex surgery performed using a microscope. The surgeon can more easily identify the exact veins. While the procedure is more complex, it has less complications and a lower recurrence rate than the open surgical approach.

Laparoscopic — the surgery is performed through small incisions and uses specific surgical instruments to see inside the body and make the repairs. The laparoscopic method has an increased chance of complications and requires general anesthesia.

Minimally Invasive Embolization Option:

Varicocele embolization is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that only requires local anesthesia.

An interventional radiologist makes a small nick in the skin.

A small catheter is threaded through the skin nick into a vein, usually in the groin or neck.

Using x-rays imaging as guidance, the catheter is advanced into the abdomen and into the varicose vein.

The vein is intentionally closed off with small metal coils and a sclerosant, a special medication used to close off veins. Blood flow to the damaged veins is blocked allowing healthy veins to take over, restoring normal blood flow.ii

Comparing Surgery with Embolization

There are many differences between the surgical and minimally invasive options. Read on for a break down of the implications, benefits, and concerns that go along with each treatment.

Anesthesia and Sedation:

Open surgery and the microsurgical technique — can both be performed under general or local anesthesia.

Laparoscopic surgery — requires general anesthesia.

Embolization — needs only local anesthesia and mild sedation, if you want it.

Hospital Stay:

Surgery — it’s not uncommon for surgical recovery to require an overnight stay in the hospital.iii

Embolization Risks:

The Benefits of Getting Treatment

Regardless of which option you choose, varicocele embolization or surgery, treating your varicoceles can greatly alleviate your pain and discomfort. Long lasting benefits of treatment include testicles returning to a normal size, increased sperm count, better quality of sperm, better DNA quality in sperm, and a better chance at achieving pregnancy. Other benefits include normalizing testosterone levels.viii

Men who previously thought there was no hope of correcting this problem, reducing pain, or creating a family now have viable choices. Technological advances have provided ways to avoid a surgical procedure while achieving similar results. If diagnosed with a varicocele, embolization is a good alternative for the right candidate. Before you make your decision, read more about “What is Varicocele Surgery” and “What is Varicocele Embolization” If surgery has been recommended, you may want to consider speaking with a varicocele embolization specialist for a second opinion.